The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-31
JUMPED THE TRACK.
A Baltimore and Ohio Train
Crashes into a Signal Tower.
The Engineer Killed and Many
Passengers Injured.

y Washington %. c. dispatch of Wednes-
day says: Another so-called "accldent" on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, within the
city limits of Washington, at an early hour
this morning, caused the death of one per-
son, the probable fatal wounding of two
others, and injuries more or less serious 10
sixteen or eighteen more.
Train No. /, the ST. Louis, Chicago, and
Cincinnati. ex press from the West, due in
Washington at $50, came laundering into
the city over the Metropolitan branch at
6:30, and at the curve, nearly q mile
away from the "Y," began whist
ling "down brakes" For some reason
the brakes were not put down. The air
gineer began blowing his distress whistle for
the brakemen to put on the regular brakes;
Either the brakemen did not heed the signal
or it was not given in time to be OF use,
for the train, flying at a frightful
rate, came laundering on toward
the sharp curve at the Y. On the south side
of the Y, in the little corner made by the in
tersection of the tracks, was the railroad sig
nal tower, brick structure three stories
high, where railroad men are en-
ployed to regulate the signals and the
switches. When the train turned the
sharp curve of the Y, the cars be-
hind the engine flew the track and smashed
into the signal tower, and in an instant
there was a wreck, which for confusion has
seldom been equaled in railroad annals The
engine. was dragged from the track, ana,
distance of lGO feet, rolled completely
over. There it lay, giving forth its
steam and hot water in great jets
The steam ploughed up the dirt and COW
cred the house in front of the engine with
fine layer OF yellow mud that looked like
fresh coat of paint. The steam and water
the inmates were badly scalded.
Near the engine lay Hamilton Brosius, the
engineer, crushed and dying, and his fireman
with several bones broken. But behind
the engine was scene OF panic
and confusion. One car was crushed
and nearly buried under the tracks
and timbers of the demolished
building Two sleeping coaches and one pas
senger coach remained on the track. The
mail car, the express car, and the baggage
car were rolled over and their sides we're
crushed. The roof of one car protruded from
the ruins of the building.
In the signal tower, on the upper floor or
observatory, William Baxter, the railroad
signal man, was at work when the disaster
happened On the ground floor Joseph
Healey, young man employed
by the railroad company, was en-
gagged cleaning lamps. Baxter, it appears,
realized the impending danger in time. He
gave shout to Healey, and then leaped
from the tower to the ground. He broke his
arm in the fall AMI was badly shaken
up, but escaped more serious injury.
Healey, below, however, was buried in the
ruins of the house. When he was disinter-
red it was found that the timbers had fallen
so as to protect him from the tons of brick
and mortar above him. He was badly fright
ened and bruised and blinded by the lime and
plaster.
The disaster at once created intense excite
ment A fire alarm was sounded, which
quickly brought the firemen and the police
to the scene. Ambulances were hurriedly sent
for and corps of physicians came, summoned
from every direction. Firemen, policemen.
railroad men and residents went to work with
coats off to clear out the debris. Many in
jured passengers were removed and taken to
neghboring houses or drug stores, or to the
hospitals. In this way eighteen or twenty
people were got out of the wreck, some of
them only slightly injured others with bones
broken and bodies badly bruised and cut.